 Knut Birgersson was apparently elevated to the office of Riksjarl during the last years of the reign of King Sverker II of Sweden.This was despite the fact that Sverker had named his infant son Johan Sverkersson (c. 1201– 1222) as riksjarl following the death of Jarl Birger Brosa.Johan Sverkersson was the nephew of Knut Birgersson, being born of his sister .